Worst is over and cyclone is moving away from RS, meteorologist tells CNN

MetSul meteorologist Estael Sias said, in an interview with CNN this Saturday (17), that the extratropical cyclone that hit Rio Grande do Sul is moving away from the state. “The worst is over,” said the specialist.

“The cyclone is already moving away from Rio Grande do Sul. We already have the dominance of drier air, which brought a drop in temperature in several parts of Rio Grande do Sul”, explained Estael.

In the affected areas – located in the Serra Gaúcha, on the north coast of the state and in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre -, there is still humidity and cloudiness, but without risk of rain or wind, as indicated by Estael.

The volumes of rain recorded in 12 hours between Thursday (15) and Friday (16) are equivalent to what is expected for up to two and a half months of precipitation in the affected regions, points out the specialist.

“For the month of June, it was the highest accumulation of rain in 24 hours in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul in the last 107 years”, added Estael.

Death toll from cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul rises to five

The number of people killed after the passage of an extratropical cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul rose to five. According to the state Civil Defense, two deaths were recorded in São Leopoldo, one in Maquiné, Novo Hamburgo and Gravataí.

Among the people who died in São Leopoldo, one was in a vehicle that was dragged by the water, while the other was hit by an electrical discharge. The cause of death of Maquiné’s victim has not been announced.

The state still has 11 people missing, nine in Caraá and two in Maquiné. The search resumed on Saturday morning.

(Produced by Duda Cambraia and Geovanna Hora, from CNN, in São Paulo)